Stay tensioning apparatus



Dec. 13, 1966 R. H. SEVEY 3,291,090

STAY TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l .FIEZZ FIEE HUNT/WITH? Q 27a /4 INVENTOR.

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STAY TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 25 205527 44 Sara? BY FIE. .20 MWWMW resins Patented Dec. 13, 1966 STAY TENSIGNING APPARATUS Robert H. Sevcy, Rte. 2, Box 136, Excelsior, Minn. Filed Get. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,308 23 Claims. or. 114-109 This invention relates to new and novel apparatus for adjustably tensioning a stay. More particularly this invention relates to apparatus for selectively adjustably varying the tension of a stay connected to a mast of a sailboat or other vertical masts whereby one may readily obtain a previous adjustment providing the desired degree of tensioning of the stay.

In sailboats there are normally provided a pluratity stays that at their one ends are connected to the boat deck or the base of the mast, and at their opposite ends to the mast or the mast tange secured to the mast. Particularly in connection with sailboat racing, the wind conditions may change considerably from one race to another, or even a substantial change of velocity of wind may occur during the course of a given race. With different wind conditions, it is desired that the tensioning of stays be adjusted in order to obtain optimum boat speed under a given wind condition. With prior art apparatus, for example conventional turnbuckles, they may be utilized for adj ustably tensioning a stay. However, unless one accurately counts the number of turns made with the turnbuckle, including the degrees of partial turns, it is very unlikely one would be able to obtain the degree of tensioning that one had in a previous race with a corresponding wind condition. Not only is it desirable to be able to quickly adjust the tensioning of a stay with one hand, but it is also desirable to be able to readily reproduce the same degree of tensioning that one had in a previous race. In order to overcome problems of the nature mentioned above and achieve the results mentioned in the preceding sentence, this invention has been made.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for selectively varying the degree of tensioning of a stay of a sailboat or of a guide wire connected to a vertical structure. Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel stay tensioning apparatus with which one can readily accurately duplicate previous adjustments of the apparatus. An additional object of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for adjustably tensioning stays of sailboats, or corresponding structures, that may be easily adjusted with one hand and which permits readily obtaining a prior adjusted condition. Still another object of the invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for respectively tensioning the stays on the port and starboard sides of a sailboat which may readily be adjusted to vary the tensioning in the port and starboard stays and one can be assured that the tensioning on each side has been varied to the same degree. In furtherance of the preceding objects, a still further object of this invention is to provide new and novel mechanism for selectively locking stay tensioni-ng apparatus at a given setting.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a sailboat having the tensioning apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the first embodiment of the tensioning apparatus of this invention, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse view, part in cross section, of the tensioning apparatus of the first embodiment, said view being generally taken along the line and in the directions of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 3, said view showing the locking lever in the locking condition in solid lines and in an unlocked condition for varying the tensioning of the stay in dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 5 to show the handle grip portion tabs and the locking lever in a locked condition;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, said view being taken along the line and in the direction of the 88 of FIGURE 9 to show the locking cIip locking the tensioning apparatus at a given setting in solid lines, and in an unlocked condition in dotted lines;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross sectional view of the second embodiment of the invention, said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 99 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse cross sectional view generally taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 10-10 of FIGURE 8 to more clearly show the slots provided in one of the guide bars for mounting the locking clip.

Referring now in particular to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a sailboat 10 having a mast 11, and a plurality of stays I3 that at their one ends are attached to the mast and at their opposite ends are attached to the stay tensioning apparatus of this invention, said stay tensioning apparatus in turn being pivotally connected to a base plate or the sailboat deck 14.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES 26, the first embodiment of the stay tensioning apparatus of this invention, generally designated 20, will now be described. The apparatus 20 includes a pair of generally vertically elongated guide bars 25 that extend along opposite, generally planar sides 26:: of the travel bar 26. The lower ends of the guide bars are pivotally secured to a vertical lug 27a of a base member or plate 27 by a pivot member 29 extended through guide-bar apertures 24. The base plate is conventionally secured to the boat deck 14, it being noted that lug 27a may be directly secured to the deck Id. The upper end of the travel bar is pivotally connected to an adaptor 33 by a pivot member 32 extended through the clevis portion of adaptor 33. The adaptor in turn is suitably secured to the lower end of a stay I3.

In order to retain the adjacent planar surface 25a of the guide bars in abutting engagement with the respective planar surfaces 26a of the travel bar, and at the same time permit selective vertical adjustment of the travel bar relative the guide bars, there is provided a nut 30 having internal threads 30a. The travel bar has opposite externally threaded edge surface portions 26b, 260 that form a matching fit with the adjacent portions of the internal threads Etta of the nut 34 The threaded surface portions 26b, 26c extend the longitudinal length of the travel bar.

Each of the guide bars of the first embodiment is of the same construction, other than in use, they are oppositely faced, i.e. the respective surfaces 25a are more closely adjacent one another than the opposite surfaces 25b. Each guide bar at one upper longitudinal edge portion has a cutout 35 which in transverse cross section provides a rounded surface 35a. Likewise, each guide bar opposite longitudinal edge portion has a cutout 36 that provides a rounded surface 36a. As may be noted from FIGURE 3, for each guide bar, surface 35a is oppositely rounded from surface 36a. Due to the provisions of the cutouts and the construction of the guide bars, each guide bar at its upper end has opposed ears 25c, the dimension E between opposite vertical edges of the ears of each guide bar being much greater than the dimension B (see FIGURE 5) of the corresponding edges which are located vertically below the cutouts 35a, 36a. The dimension E is substantially greater than the maximum inside diameter of the threads 30a while the dimension B is less than the minimum inside diameter of said threads. The dimension B is such that the nut 39 may be slipped over the lower end of one of the guide bars. However, dimension B is sufiiciently great that when the guide bars are positioned with their surfaces 26a in abutting relationship, the nut may not be slipped over a pair of guide bars simultaneously. Accordingly the lower end of one of the guide bars is slipped in the nut 30 and moved relative the nut until the nut is radially opposite surfaces 35a, 36a. In this connection it is to be noted that the longitudinal length of surfaces 35a, 36a is slightly greater than the longitudinal length N of the nut.

After the nut is opposite the rounded surfaces of the first guide bar, the first guide bar is transversely moved until its surfaces 35a, 36a abuts against the internal threads of the nut. Now the lower end of a second guide bar 25 is extended into the nut bore such that its surface 25a is adjacent the surface 250 of the first guide bar. After the second guide bar has been moved relative the nut that its surfaces 35a, 36a are radially opposite the threads of the nut, the second guide bar is transversely moved to have its rounded surfaces abut against arcuate portions of threads 30. At this time the guide bars are transversely spread apart sufliciently that the lower end of the travel bar may be positioned between the ears of the respective guide bar. Now the nut is threaded onto the travel bar to move the travel bar relative the guide bars in a manner that will be described hereinafter. It is to be mentioned that the thickness dimension X of the travel bar is sufiicient that the guide bars are retained in spaced relationship whereby they cannot move vertically any substantial amount relative to the nut, and the nut can be moved vertically relative the travel bar only when its being rotatably threaded relative the travel bar. This results from the upper surface of the nut abutting against ears 25c; and with the travel bar between the guide bars the respective shoulders 250 provided by the cutout 35, 36 abutting against the lower surface portions of the nut.

In order to prevent accidental turning of the nut 30 relative the travel bar and guide bars, and at the same time to permit easily turning the nut, there is provided a locking lever 40. The locking lever has an elongated handle grip portion 44, 45, 46; an enlarged portion 41, 42, 43 that is U-shaped in transverse cross section, and a tapered portion 400 joining portion 44, 45, 46 to portion 41, 42, 43. Advantageously the locking lever portions are integrally formed.

The handle grip portion of the locking lever is generally U-shaped in transverse cross section and has a web 45 at one elongated edge integrally joined to leg 44 and an opposite elongated edge integrally joined to leg 46. The legs 45, 46 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the combined thickness of the travel bar and the guide bar (see FIGURE 6). The one transverse edge of legs 44, 46 and web 45 are integrally joined to an outwardly tapered intermediate portion 40a. The opposite transverse edges of portion 40a are integrally joined to leg portions 41 and 42, and web portions 43 of the enlarged portion. The web 43 at one edge is integrally joined to leg 41 and at the opposite edge is integrally joined to leg 42. The leg 41 extends along one generally planar edge of the nut 30 while the leg 42 extends along a planar edge that is generally parallel to the first mentioned planar edge. Legs 41, 42 are pivotally secured to the nut 30 by fastening members 48, the web 43 having a cutout 52 for reasons set forth hereafter.

Each planar surface 26a of the travel bar is provided with longitudinally spaced code indicia providing a scale. The respective indicia of the scale shown in FIGURE 5 is designated by 3, 4 and 5. The longitudinal spacing between each indicia preferably is equal to the longitudinal movement of the travel bar resulting from one complete revolution of the nut on the travel bar. For example if the upper surfaces 25F of the guide bars were at the same elevation as indicia 3, and the not were threaded one complete revolution in the proper angular direction, the travel bar would be moved along its elongated axis to a position that indicia 4 was at the same elevation as surfaces 25F.

In order to releasably hold the locking lever in the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby it prevents rotation of the nut relative the guide bars and travel bar, each of the legs 44 and 46 respectively have inwardly extending integral tabs 50 and 51. The tabs are of a size and shape that they will slightly overlap a portion of the respective guide bar that is transversely opposite web 45 to prevent the locking lever being accidentally dislodged from the solid line position. That is the tabs prevent accidental movement of the lever in the direction of arrow 54; the web extending along the bars 25, 26 prevents any substantial pivotal movement in the opposite direction; and the legs 44, 46 extending along and sufficiently close to surfaces 26b toprevent any substantial rotational movement of the lever about the elongated longitudinal axis of bar 26 relative to said bar. However, upon manually gripping the handle grips portion 44-46, the locking lever may be pivoted in the direction of arrow 54 about the fastners 48 to a position to extend in the general horizontal dotted line condition rection of arrow 54 about the fasteners 48 to a position the legs 44, 46 are clear of the guide bars whereupon the locking lever and nut may be rotated relative to and about the guide bars and travel bar either in the direction of arrow 55, or the direction opposite thereto (see FIG- URE 4).

The slot 52 is provided to permit the locking lever being pivoted to the unlocked position of FIGURE 5, the slot 52 being of an appropriate width and depth. If a hex nut 30 is being used such as shown, the slot 52 may advantageously be of a V-shape that opens upwardly (locking lever solid line position of FIGURE 5) and has an apex adjacent portion 40a. With an appropriate size V-shaped slot and by lowering the fastener pivot connection to the nut from that illustrated, upon pivoting the thus modified locking lever to extend at generally right angles relative the locking position, the edges of the V-shaped slot would respectively bear against generally planar edges 30b, 306 of the locking nut, to transmit a turning force to nut 30 when the loclcing lever is turned either in the direction or opposite of the arrow 55.

The apparatus of this first embodiment having been set forth, the operation will now be described. Assuming that the apparatus 20 as has been previously set for the FIGURE 5 wind condition and now the wind condition has changed whereby a new adjustment is desired, the handle grip portion of lever 40 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 54 to the dotted line position of FIGURE 5. Now the locking lever is rotated in the direction of arrow 55 (or the opposite direction) relative the travel bar whereby the nut is rotated about the longitudinal axis of said bar. Since the nut cannot move axially relative to the guide bars( other than the longitudinal tolerance between shoulders 25c and ears 25e), the rotation of the nut will move (translate) the travel bar in a generally vertical direction (arrow 56 or the opposite direction depending on the direction of rotation of the nut) relative to the guide bars. This movement of the travel bar will result in a change in tension applied to the stay that is connected thereto. The nut is rotated sufiiciently that the proper indicia of the scale is the desired spacing or directly opposite the top edges 25F of the guide bars. The proper spacing of the desired indicia relative edge 25F is known from prior experience with similar wind conditions.

After the locking lever has been rotated sufficiently to adjustably move the travel bar relative to the guide bars to the desired relative position to provide the desired tension in the stay, the handle lever is rotated so that the plane-s the legs 44, 46 will be parallel to the planar surfaces 260 of the travel bar and thence pivoted in the direction opposite arrow 54. Upon pivoting the locking lever in the last mentioned direction, the tabs 50, 51 are brought adjacent to the guide bars whereupon further pivoting results in the tab spreading sufficiently to move across the planar surface-s 25b of the guide bars and thence to a position to overlap the guide bars such as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Now the tabs releasably hold the locking lever in a generally longitudinally extending condition such as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. This will prevent accidental turning of the nut 30 and thereby apparatus 24} will retain the desired tension in the stay until the locking lever is again moved to the dotted line position of FIGURE 5 and is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the guide bars and travel bar.

Referring now in particular to the FIGURES 7 to 10, the second embodiment of the invention, generally designated 60, will now be described. The embodiment 60 includes a first guide bar 25' and a travel bar 26 which are of the same construction as described with reference to the first embodiment. Embodiment 66 also includes a nut 61 having internal threads 61a, nut 61 being the same as the nut 30 other than for the provision of the threaded apertures for fasteners 48. The embodiment 60 also includes a second guide bar 62 which is of the same construction as guide bar 25 other than the guide bar 62 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 64, a transversely extending slot 63 and a recess 62a. The slot 64 in part extend longitudinally intermediate the rounded surface portions 35a, 35b of bar 62 and to a substantially lower elevation than said rounded surface portions. The slot 64 opens to the adjacent planar surface 26a of the travel bar, but does not extend transversely through the guide bar, and at one end opens to the transverse slot 63. The slot 63 transversely extends completely through guide bar 62 to open to the adjacent surface 26a of the travel bar.

In order to release the lock the nut 61 at a given angular setting, there is provided an integrally formed locking clip 66. The locking clip has a short vertical leg 66a that at its upper end is joined to the horizontal leg 66b, the opposite edge of leg 66b being joined to the elongated vertical leg 66c. The lower end of leg 660 is joined to outwardly inclined portion 66d which at its lower edge is joined to the horizontal leg 66e. The opposite edge of leg 66s in turn is joined to the lcwer edge of upright leg 66 As may be noticed from FIGURE 8, leg 662 extends through slot 63 while leg 66 is of sufiicient longitudinal length to extend a substantially distance upwardly into slot 64 even when leg 66c bottoms on the slot edge 63a that is opposite slot 64.

When leg 66c bottoms on edge 63a or is very close to the adjacent thereto (depending on the length of leg 66c), horizontal leg 66]; extends across the top surface of nut 61, leg 660 being extended upwardly through the threaded bore of nut 61 transversely intermediately threads 61a and the adjacent portion of the planar surface 62b of guide bar 62. At this time the short vertical leg 66a extends downwardly along side of a planer edge surface of the nut 61, the width of the clip being sufliciently great to prevent rotation of the nut 61 when leg 66a extends alongside a planer surface of the nut. In this connection it should be noted that the slot 64 in transverse cross section forms a sufficiently close fit with leg 64 to prevent the clip from being moved in any direction other than a longitudinally direction of arrow 76 or a direction opposite thereto. This prevents the clip leg 66c binding between the nut and guide bar 62 as the nut is rotated relative the guide bars with the locking clip in a non-locked condition as set forth below.

Clip 66 is of a construction and slots 63, 64 of a longitudinal length that the clip may be moved in the direction of arrow '70 from the solid line position of FIGURE 8 to the dotted line position of said figure wherein the leg 66a. is longitudinally spaced from the upper surface of the nut 61. At this time the clip is in an unlocked condi tion whereby nut 61 may be manually rotated relative to the guide bars and travel bar.

In order to release the hold the clip in an unlocked condition, the clip is provided with an integrally formed dimple 66g adjacent to the inclining portion 66d, guide bar 62 having a recessed 62a for receiving the dimple 66g. At the time dimple 66g is in recess 62a, it releasably retains the clip in an unlocked position. However, the clip 66 may be manually moved in the direction opposite of arrow 70 whereby the dimple is forced out of recess and then the Clip moved to the solid line locking condition of FIGURE 8.

As may be noted from FIGURE 9 guide bar 62; has ears 62c, 62e of the same construction as ears 25c, 25c, and that the horizontal legs of the clip extend generally perpendicular to the planar surface 62b of guide bar 62.

The structure of the second embodiment has been set forth, the operation thereof will now be described. The operation of the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment other than the operation of the respective locking element. That is, when it is desired to adjust the tension of the stay connected to the second embodirnent 66, the clip 66 is manually forced from the solid line position to the dotted line position of FIGURE 8, and thence the nut 61 is manually turned in the appropriate direction for moving the travel bar relative to guide bars 25, 62. After nut 61 has been turned sufficiently that the upper transversed surfaces of the guide bars are located adjacent to the desired indicia of the scale on the travel bar, and sufficiently that the vertical planar surface of the nut extends generally parallel to the leg 66a, the clip is manually forced in a longitudinal direction opposite arrow 76 to the locked solid line con dition of FIGURE 8.

Even though the invention has been illustrated with reference to a utilizing hex nut, it is to be understood that other appropriately shaped nuts, for example rectangular, may be used. Further, it is to be understood that the corners of the nuts formed by the intersection of generally planar edges may be rounded. An advan tage of using a hex nut in the second embodiment over one having a smaller number of side surfaces is that it may be locked in any one of six angular positions.

Even though in part the embodiments 2t) and 6% have been described with reference the longitudinal axis extending vertically, it is to be understood this is for purposes of facilitating the description of the invention since if the general direction of extension of the stay is inclined from the vertical, the longitudinal axis of the respective embodiment would generally be similarly inclined.

Also to be mentioned is that if there is provided a port stay and a counterpart starboard stay with each of these stays being respectively connected at their lower ends to a stay tensioning device of this invention and the stays have been connected to the respective device so that the same degree of tensioning is being applied with the top transverse edge being adjacent the same indicia of the travel bar, than with adjusting the tensioning in one device, one only has to adjust the second device until its edge 25F has the same relationship to the indicia of its travel bar as the edge 25F of said one device to its travel bar indicia. Thus one is readily assured that the tensioning in both the port stay and the counterpart starboard stay has been varied the same amount.

Further it is believed apparent from the preceding description that for both embodiments the nut in connecting the guide bars to the travel bar retains the opposite planar surfaces of the travel bar sufficiently closely adjacent the respective adjacent surface of the guide bar to prevent rotation of the travel bar relative the guide bars about their longitudinal axis; but upon rotation of the nut relative said bars, translating the travel bar relative the guide bars.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for connecting one end of a stay to a base member and selectively adjusting the tensioning in the stay comprising a longitudinally elongated travel bar having opposite longitudinally extending surfaces and a first end portion, means for connecting said travel bar first end portion to the stay, a first guide bar, a second guide bar, said guide bars each having first end portions, means for connecting said guide bars first end portions to the base member, and means rotatable mounted on the guide bars for retaining the guide bars in abutting relationship with said opposite surfaces and selectively translating the travel bar relative the guide bars as it is rotated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said travel bar has opposite threaded edge portions between said surfaces and that said means is an internally threaded member having threads forming a threading fit with said edge portions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said guide bars have means for retaining said connecting means in given longitudinal spaced relationship to said guide bar end portions while permitting rotation of the connecting means relative the guide bars and travel bar.

4 The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said guide bar means comprises longitudinal edge portions having slots opening transversely outwardly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that each guide bar has an opposite end portion, said opposite end portion being of a substantial greater transverse dimension than the corresponding dimension of the respective guide bar first end portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said travel bar has threaded edge portions between said surfaces, and that said connecting means comprises a nut having an internally threaded bore that forms a threading fit with the adjacent threaded edge portion, and portions located within said slots.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said travel bar has longitudinally spaced indicia on at least one of its surfaces whereby turning said nut in the appropriate direction relative the travel bar the travel bar is longitudinally moved relative the guide bars to locate the desired indicia adjacent a guide bar opposite end portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that there is providing means mounted in abutting engagement with the nut for releasably locking the nut in a given angular position relative the travel bar and guide bars.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said nut has a transverse surface and a generally planar edge portion extending parallel to the direction of elongation of the travel bar, and that said locking means comprises a locking clip having a first leg slidably extended through said bore in abutting engagement with one of the guide bars, a second leg joined to said first leg to extend across the transverse surface of the nut and a third leg joined to said second leg to extend away therefrom in the same direction as the first leg and adjacent the nut planar edge when the nut is in proper angular relationship relative the guide bars.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said locking means comprises a locking lever having a U-shaped handle grip portion, said handle grip portion having legs transversely spaced by a dimension slightly greater than the combined transverse thickness of said guide bars and travel bar, and means connecting said locking lever to said nut for pivoted movement about an axis in a plane general perpendicular to direction of elongation of the travel bar between a locking position that the guide bars and travel bar are at least in part transversely located between said legs to prevent the locking lever being rotated about an axis in the direction of elongation and an unlocked position that the locking lever and thereby the nut may be rotated about the last mentioned axis relative said bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that said handle grip portion includes a web joining said legs and a tab joined to each leg in cooperation with said legs and web releasable retain the locking lever in the locking position.

12. Apparatus for connecting one end of a stay to a base member and selectively adjusting the tensioning in the stay comprising a longitudinally elongated travel bar having one end portion adapted for connection to the stay, a longitudinally elongated guide bar having one an end portion adapted for connection to the base member, means rotatably mounted on the guide bar to rotate about a longitudinal axis for connecting the guide bar to the travel bar and selectively translate the travel bar in a longitudinal direction relative the guide bar, said guide bar having means for retaining the connecting means in a given longtudinal spaced relationship to said guide bar end portion while permitting rotation movement of said connecting means, and means mounted in abutting engagement with the connecting means for releasably locking the connecting means in a given angular position relative travel bar.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said rotatable means comprises a nut having internal threads and that said travel bar has cooperating threaded edge portions forming a threading fit with said nut threads and a longitudinally extending surface portion, said surface portion having longitudinally spaced indicia that are of a spacing that the travel bar will move relative the guide bar the longitudinal spacing from one indicia to the next indicia upon one revolution of said nut relative said bars.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said travel bar and rotatable means have cooperating threaded portions, the rotatable means cooperating portion constituting a threaded bore, and that the locking means comprises locking clip mean longitudinally slidably extended through said bore in abutting engagement with the guide bar for in a first position blocking rotation of the rotatable means relative said bars and a second position permitting rotation of the rotatable means relative said bars.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that said guide bar has a transverse slot extended therethrough, a longitudinal slot opening to the travel bar and to said transverse slot, and that the locking clip has a leg in each of said slots to in cooperation with said slots permit the locking clip being moved longitudinally relative said bars and prevent it binding with said rotatable means and the slotted guide bar as the rotatable means is rotated relative said bars.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said travel bar and rotatable means have cooperating threaded portions, and that the locking means comprises an elongated locking lever, and means for connecting said locking lever to the rotatable means to pivot about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of said longitudinal axis between a locking position and an unlocked position, said lever having means for abutting against the guide bar in the locking position to block rotation about said longitudinal axis,

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that said rotatable means comprises a nut having the rotatable means cooperating threaded portion and that the means forabutting against the guide bar comprises a generally U-shaped handle grip portion which in the locking lever unlocked position extends generally transversely outwardly of said nut, said handle grip portion in the lever locking position having a leg extending along side and closely adjacent to said guide bar to bear against said guide bar to prevent any substantial relative rotation about said longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further characterized in that there is provided tab means integrally joined to said handle grip portion to in cooperation therewith releasably retain said lever in said locking position.

19. Apparatus for connecting one end of a stay to a base member and selectively adjusting the tensioning of the stay comprising a longitudinally elongated travel bar having one end portion connected to the stay and opposite threaded edge portions, a connecting member having an internally threaded bore that forms a threading fit with the adjacent travel bar threaded portions, and longitudinally extending guide bar means for connecting member to the base member, said guide bar means having a guide bar portion extended through said bore along side of said travel bar to block longitudinal movement of the connecting member While permitting relative rotational movement whereby the travel bar is longitudinally moved relative the guide bar portion and a transverse edge adjacent said travel bar, said travel bar having longitudinally spaced indicia, said indicia and transverse edge permitting readily obtaining a prior longitudinally relationship of the guide bar portion relative the travel bar upon suificiently rotating the connecting member relative the travel bar.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further characterized in that there is provided means for acting in cooperation with said connecting member and guide bar means to releasably lock said connecting member in a given rotary position relative said guide bar portion.

21. Apparatus for connecting one end of a stay to a base member and selectively adjusting the tensioning in the stay comprising a longitudinally elongated travel bar having one end portion connected to the stay, opposite threaded edge portions and opposed surfaces between said threaded edge portions, a connecting member having an internally threaded bore forming a threading fit with adjacent travel bar threaded edge portions and opposite surfaces extending generally radially outwardly of said axis, and guide bar means for connecting said connecting member to the base member, said guide bar means having guide bar portions extended through said bore adjacent the respective travel bar surface and in part transversely overlapping said connecting member surfaces to rotatably support said connecting member.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that said guide bar portions each have a transversely outwardly opening cut out of a shape providing a transversely rounded surface and said overlapping said connecting member being a nut extended into said cut outs to bear against said rounded surfaces.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further characterized in that said guide bar portions have a transverse dimension greater than the diameter of said bore on the longitudinal side of the nut opposite said base member and a transverse dimension smaller than the diameter of said bore on the longitudinal side of the nut adjacent said base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,834 2/1896 Pickenpack 1l4l09 985,673 2/1911 Hayes 287-59 2,452,368 10/1948 Gobel 254-67 2,580,482 1/1952 Stukenborg et al. 287-62 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

M. MEHR, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Non 3,291,090 December 13, 1966 Robert H. Sevey It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 36, strike out "rection of arrow 54 about the fasteners 48 to a position" and insert instead of Figure 30 In the locking lever dotted line position Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING ONE END OF A STAY TO A BASE MEMBER AND SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING THE TENSIONING IN THE STAY COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED TRAVEL BAR HAVING OPPOSITE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SURFACES AND A FIRST END PORTION, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TRAVEL BAR FIRST END PORTION TO THE STAY, A FIRST GUIDE BAR, A SECOND GUIDE BAR, SAID GUIDE BARS EACH HAVING FIRST END PORTIONS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID GUIDE BARS FIRST END PORTIONS TO THE BASE MEMBER, AND MEANS ROTATABLE MOUNTED ON THE GUIDE BARS FOR RETAINING THE GUIDE BARS IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID OPPOSITE SURFACES AND SELECTIVELY TRANSLATING THE TRAVEL BAR RELATIVE THE GUIDE BARS AS IT IS ROTATED. 